Örebro is the chief town in the province of Närke, the small region between the upland province of Västmanland and the wooded country of Värmland. The town lies in the plain on both sides of the Svartå, near the west end of Lake Hjälmar. It has a long tradition as a commercial town, having for centuries served as a link between the mining region and the farming country of central Sweden. It grew up around a ford on the Svartå, which from the end of the 13th century was protected by a 25m/80ft high tower built by Birger Jarl to watch over and defend the river crossing. Later the watch-tower gave place to a fortified castle, rebuilt in the 16th century, in which the Riksdag (the Swedish Parliament) frequently met.
The water tower of Örebro is popular as an observation tower. The Swedish Chamber Orchestra is Scandinavia's only full-time professional chamber orchestra. It was created by merging two of Örebro's local orchestras.
From the Stortorg in Örebro, Kungsgatan runs north to the Castle, an imposing four-towered Renaissance structure on an island in the river. It dates in its present form from the 16th century (restored 1897-1900): note particularly the richly decorated doorways in the inner courtyard. The Castle is now occupied by provincial government offices.
Southwest of the center of Örebro, on the road to Karlstad, is an open-air swimming pool, Gustavsviksbadet. The Gustavsvik Motor Museum (open in summer) has a collection of veteran and vintage cars and motorcycles.
From the Stortorg in Örebro, Drottninggatan runs south to Olof Palmes Torg, which houses the Medborgarhus (Community House; 1964), now occupied by a youth club. The same building houses the Hjalmar Bergman Theater, named after the well-known Swedish novelist (1883-1931), who was born in Örebro.
Lake Hjälmar (area 483sq.km/190sq.mi, greatest depth 28m/90ft) extends eastward into Södermanland, and is linked with Lake Mälar by the Hjälmar Canal and the Arbogaå. Between 1877 and 1888 the water level was lowered by 1.80m/6ft, thus making an additional 27,000 hectares/67,500 acres of land available for cultivation. The lake is well stocked with fish and is frequented by many species of birds. At Segersjöviken is a bird-watching tower.
17km/10.5mi south of Örebro is Mosjö church, a medieval church which has survived practically unchanged. It contains a reproduction of the 12th century Mosjö Madonna (75cm/30in. high), the original of which is in the National Historical Museum in Stockholm. This wood figure in the costume of a Nordic goddess is believed to be one of the oldest representations of the Virgin in Scandinavia. To the east of the church are a number of tombs and a "judgment ring".
To the southeast of Örebro Castle lies the Castle Park, with a summer restaurant. On the east side of the park are the Örebro County Museum (local history and culture; special exhibitions, including shows of modern art) and the Museum of Technology.
10km/6mi northeast of Örebro, on the old Fellingsbroväg, is the Nastasten, a runic stone with the inscription "Tored had this stone set up for Lydbjörn, his good son".
2km/1.25mi east of Örebro town center can be found the Oset bird sanctuary: 45 hectares/110 acres of land and 85 hectares/210 acres of water, frequented by many species of birds.
In the center of the Örebro is the main square (Stortorget). At the west end of the square stands St Nicholas's Church (Nikolaikyrka; 18th C.), in which the French Marshal Bernadotte was chosen as heir to the throne in 1810. The church also contains the tomb of the legendary national hero Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson, a bronze statue of whom (by Carl Gustav Qvamström, 1865) can be seen opposite the church in front of the neo-Gothic Town Hall (1856-62).
In the north of Örebro, in Storgatan, is the Olaus Petri Church (1812). In front of it can be seen a bronze monument (by Nils Sjörgren) to the brothers Laurentius and Olaus Petri, leading figures of the Reformation in Sweden during the reign of Gustavus Vasa.
Northeast of the church is Svampen (the "Mushroom"), a 60m/200ft high water-tower (restaurant) from which there are extensive views of the surrounding countryside.
From the Castle in Örebro, Kanalvägen leads along the south bank of the Svartå to the Municipal Park, on the east side of which, on the banks of the river, is the Wadköping open-air museum, with a number of old Swedish wooden houses, including the King's House (Kungsstugan; 15th or 16th C.) and the Burgher's House (Borgarstugan; 17th C.).
Address: Wadköping Open-Air Museum, Box 32320, S-70135 Orebro, Sweden
Hours:
May 1 to August 31: 11am-5pm; Closed: Mon
September 1 to April 30: 11am-4pm; Closed: Mon, Mon
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Örebro Castle, Orebro
Örebro Castle, Orebro
Orebro
